Can opener



Aug. 18, 1953 R. E. M LEAN 2,548,897

CAN OPENER Original Filed March 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIQ 1.

Z] Robert E M L ean R. E. M LEAN Aug. 18, 1953 CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 4, 1948 annual-fin alll . v 152 E W 6 a 3. m 1 n F Patented Aug. 18, 195 3 CAN OPENER Robert E. McLean, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to John G. Hockery, Kansas City, Mo., as trustee for Henry J. Talge and Foster L. Talge Original application March 4, 1948, Serial No.

12,910. Divided and this 1953, Serial No. 357,655

. 5 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to the class of can opening devices of the rotary drive wheel type and is directed particularly to improvements in cutter supporting means.

The present application is a division of application Serial No. 12,910 filed March 4, 1948.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel carrier for a disk cutter, which is simple, strong and rigid and which is provided with an integral fixed can rest and a novel, simple and inexpensive resilient can rest particularly adapted for use with the form of opener described in the parent application and with other can opener structures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel carrier for a disk cutter which is mounted for movement in association with a fixed element forming a part of the body plate of the opener device, which fixed element maintains the cutter carrier in rigid alignment in relation to the body plate of the can opener to permit the rearward end of the cutter carrier, on which the disk cutter is relatively centrally mounted on an arbor secured in the cutter carrier, to be swung inwardly slightly against resilient means when necessary, such as when the seam portion of the side wall of the can is passing between the can driving wheel and the disk cutter.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel resilient can rest, for operation in association with a disk cutter carrier, forwardly of the disk cutter and which has movement only in a vertical plane.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel disk cutter carrier of the character stated in which no part thereof, including a resilient means which maintains the disk cutter adiacent to the can driving wheel, extends outwardly to such an extent as to interfere with the locating or operation of any other part on the right hand side of the supporting body plate of the opener.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel disk cutter carrier of the character stated, which is simple to manufacture, inexpensive and can be easily installed on the can opener in assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described application May 27,

since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a rotary drive wheel type can opener showing the improved cutter and cutter supporting means.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the opposite, or right hand, side showing one form of driving mechanism.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, with the driving shaft cut transversely at the inner side 01" the thrust mechanism operating eccentric and link, the parts shown being in the position which they assume when the operating crank has been turned clockwise to effect the movement of the driving wheel into working relation with the cutter.

Figure 4 is a view in top plane of the opener device.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral l0 generally designates the body plate of one type of can opener upon which the cutter supporting means is adapted to be used. This body plate is of substantially rectangular outline and is formed integrally with an arm I l, the inner end of which is adapted to be secured in a suitable manner to a support.

Upon its outer or right hand side, the body plate has secured thereto adjacent to the top edge, a pivot rivet l2 which passes through and supports for vertical oscillation an end of a link plate which is generally designated l3, supporting such plate for oscillation at the side of the body. This link plate I3 has the recess H1 in the forward edge and below the recess the plate has the forwardly projecting portion l5 which is pivot-ally attached, by the rivet [6, to an end of a thrust link I 1.

The body plate It! has formed therein the short substantially vertically extending elliptical opening [8 over which lies an end of the link ll for cooperative connection with the hereinafter descrikfid element which passes through the opening The lower forward part of the link plate 13 is pressed outwardly to be oiT-set from the adjacent side of the body plate H], as indicated at i S, to provide clearance between the link plate and the body, for the lower end of the thrust link i'!.

At its rear end the link plate 53 has the relatively long arcuate slot 20 formed therein, the arc of which is struck from the center of the pivot l2.

Fixed in and extending through the body plate I is a rivet shank 2! which extends through the slot of the plate l3 and has secured thereto the flanged head 22 which, as shown in Figure 6, has an overall diameter greater than the width of the slot 28 whereby it engages the outer face of the plate to maintain the latter closely in position against the side of the body plate ill. its other end, the shank 2| is enlarged, as indicated at 23, and terminates in the enlarged integral head 26. Accordingly it will be apparent that the link plate l3 oscillates upon the pivot rivet I2 and its extent of oscillation is determined or limited by the length of the slot 29 in which the reduced portion of the attached head 22 on the rivet 21 engages.

Upon the inner or left hand side of the body plate i0 is positioned the drive wheel supporting plate which is generally designated 25. This plate comprises a relatively large circular rear end portion 2% and the relatively narrow forwardly extending portion 2? which lies across the opening 58, as shown in Figure 1.

In line with the opening iii, the plate 25 has formed. therethrough the tapped opening 223 and extending through and engaging in thisv opening 28 is the threaded. portion 29 of a relatively long bearing sleeve or journal 33 which passes through the opening 58 of the body plate as shown in Figure 5. The inner end of the eccentric journal 39 is enlarged to provide the 3! which bears against the inner side of the drive wheel supporting plate 25.

At the opposite side of the body plate it the journal Bil passes through the upper end oi the thrust link ii and through the cut-out or recess it which is formed in the forward edge of the thrust plate l3.

Passing through the journal 38 is the shaft and fixed upon the inner end of the shaft is the peripherally toothed can rim engaging driving wheel 33 which engages against the head 3! of the journal. The opposite end of theshaft 32 and of the journal project a substantial di tance to the right beyond the thrust plate it to have the following parts mounted thereon.

The outer end of th shaft 32 is reduced as indicated at 3 1 and engages in a suitable opening in the end of the crank or lever '35. This reduced end 34 be of squared cross section to engage in correspondingly formed opening in the lever whereby to prevent any turning on the shaft.

Eccentrically mounted upon the journal 36 is an eccentric 3% which is designed to turn freely around the sleeve journal 30. The eccentric 3B is positioned between the two spacer disks 3? one of which positions against the adjacent side of the crank 35 and these disks, the-eccentric and the crank are all secured together by the rivet 38.

As shown in Figure 5 the diameters of the spacer disks 3? are the same but they are materially greater than th diameter of the eccentric 3G and encircling the eccentric 36 to turn thereon is an eccentric ring or strap 39 which forms an integral part of one end of a slotted link 5i This link extends in a general direction rearwardly from the shaft 32 and it has formed therein the relatively long longitudinally extending substantially L-shapeol slot i i, the long arm of the slot running lengthwise of the link and the right angularly directed short arm extending transversely of the link at the rear end thereof as shown in Figure 2.

Engaging in the slot 3! is a 131K152 which is cari ried by the adjacent link plate 13. The width of this slot, both in the long and short arms thereof, is materially greater than the diameter of the pin 32 and also the short arm of the slot 4-! is directed downwardly.

Encircling the eccentric 3t and interposed between the eccentric strap and the adjacent spacer disk 3'5, is an annular corrugated spring 33. This spring is tightly positioned between the parts mentioned so as to maintain a relatively strong frictional engagement between the ring 3% and the disk El against which it bears so that upon turning of the crank 35 the link M]- will be turned or swung within the limits permitted by the part of the slot 4% in which the pin 42 is engaged.

Form d integrally with the plate 25 directly below the can rim engaging driving wheel is the laterally extending can rest M. This can rest is engaged by the side of a can when the latter is fixed to they cutter, whereby the can is maintained in proper position for engagement by the driving wheel and the cutter about to be described.

Formed integrally with the inner or lefthand side of the body plate id, adjacent to the top edge and at the forward endthereof, is the rearwardly directed guide lip Q5. This guide lip has engaged between it and the body plate Hi, the forward end of the cutter wheel supporting plate 66. The rear end of this plate it is supported upon the pin il, one end of which pin is secured to the body plate. The pin extends laterally tolthe-left and terminates in a head 48 between which, and the cutter carrying plate as it supports under compression, the coil spring it.

At its forward end the cutter disk supporting plate 3-6 has formed integral therewith the laterally projecting vertically spaced ears 5% and 53. These ears have the lip 45 engaged therebetween as shown in Figure-.1 so that vertical movement of the plate 45 is thus prevented.

Disposed-beneath the lowerear Ellis aj'can rest 52 which has a hub portion 53 which extends upwardly through an opening in the ear 5-93. Above the car 553 this hub is continued by the reduced stem 54 which passes through a suitable opening in the upper ear 5! and has fixed thereto the rivet head or "cap 515'. Between the ears fi'ii' and 5! the hub extension 5 3 carries the coil spring 56, the upper end of which bears against the'under side of the, rear 5i while the lower end "bears against the upper end of the hub 53thereby resisting upward movement of the hub and the can rest 52.

Immediately rear-wardly of the can rest 52 and the ear 5! the lower edge-of'the plate ifi is struck outwardly to provide the inclined off-set portion 51, best seen-in Figure 5. This off-set portion has fixed thereto the pivot stud 58; 'the-outer-end of which carries the enlarged head '59.. Ro'tata'bly supported upon this stud 58 is a relatively. long hubsleeve Gil which forms-an integral part'of a disk or circular cutter 5t. Thus, because of-the inclination of the outstruck -portion 51 the plane of the disk cutter =5! is obliauegto,the side-face of the wheel 33 against which thewal'l of theoan engages and this wheel when moved upwardly passes across and in close proximity to the-right hajgi ltii'de of the cutter wheel;

' u 6 1 e d-of the cutter su orti 46, there extends laterally to.th i ,t, ii lower edge of the plate the can flange Test 152 which cooperates With the iyieldablecr resilient rest 52 in engaging the top th For flange of a can when the can is placed in cutting position and has the head thereof penetrated by the cutter 6|.

In the operation of the can opener described the operating handle 35 is first placed in the extreme rearwardly directed position as illustrated in Figure 2, if it is not already in such position, by counterclockwise rotation. The rivet 2| prevents further counterclockwise oscillation of the plate l3 beyond the position illustrated in Figure 2. Since the stud 42 is engaged in th shorter portion of the transversely extending leg of the L-shaped slot 4! during such counterclockwise oscillation of the plate I3, the operating handle or crank and the eccentric 33 secured thereto cannot be further oscillated counterclockwise. Friction exerted by the spring 43 tends to cause the slotted link 43 to rotate with the eccentric unit 36. However, such friction is pre-determined and need be only suflicient to properly overcome the weight of the outer end of the slotted link. With the parts as shown in Figure 2' the can driving wheel 33 will be in its lowered position due to the action of the plate 13 and the link El which support the bearing journal 35.

The can is then held with its upper end against the edge of the disk cutter 6i and with th rim or flange thereof above the toothed edge of the driving wheel 33. The operating handle is then rotated clockwise resulting in the raising of the wheel 33, the puncturing of the can head by the cutter 6i and the cutting out of the can head by continued rotation of the crank.

When the can is first positioned as described, during approximately the first half turn clockwise of the operating crank 35, the oscillatable link plate l3 and the link I! are moved from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, thereby elevating the can driving wheel as stated and causing, upon turning of the crank, the rotation of the can by the driving wheel.

The eccentric disk 36, through the slotted link AB causes a required oscillation of the thrust plate I3. Inasmuch as the parts will then be in the position illustrated in Figure 3, wherein the axis of the pivot rivet I6 is slightly forward of a straight line across the axis of the pivot rivet l2 and the axis of the can driving wheel shaft 32 and further clockwise oscillation of the plate i3 is prevented by the movement limiting rivet 2!, the journal is maintained in the position illustrated in Figure 3 until the plate [3 is oscillated counterclockwise.

During the upward movement of the can driving wheel 33 and the can, the can rim engages the fixed can rest 62 and the resilient can rest 52, slightly elevating the latter against the predetermined tension of the spring 56. Further clockwise rotation of the operating handle 35 causes the can driving wheel to feed the can through the device to cut out the end of the can. However, such further clockwise rotation of the operating handle does not change the position of the oscillating plate I3 inasmuch as the slotted portion of the link merely reciprocates on the stud 42 as the eccentric 36 rotates with the operating handle. As the can is fed through the device, the disk cutter 6| can be forced away from the can driving wheel 33, laterally, against the tension of the spring 49, a pre-determined amount when necessary, such as when passing the seam of the side wall of the can. However, the very slight swinging movement of the disk cutter carrier 45 required for such purpose is not sunicient to effect the alignment of 6 the disk cutter carrier in the guide flange 45 at the forward end of the body plate. The tension of the spring 56 is such as to provide adequate traction of the teeth of the can driving wheel 33 with the under edge of the rim of the can.

The can guard 44 maintains the side of the can a pre-determined distance away from the lower surface of the can driving wheel.

When the end has been cut from the can and the operating handle is rotated counterclockwise to its extreme position to release the can from the device and prepare the device for reception of another can, initial counterclockwise rotation of the eccentric unit 36 causes the slotted link 40 to rotate therewith until further rotation is prevented by engagement of the stud or pin 52 with the lower edge of the slot through which it extends. When the stud 42 engages in the short arm of the slot 4 I, further counterclockwise rotation of the eccentric unit through the slotted link 40, oscillates the plate l3 to the position illustrated in Figure 2, thereby lowering the can driving wheel 33 and releasing the can from the device, the operating handle 35 assuming an out of the way position, as illustrated in Figure 2, without unnecessary turning upon completion of the operation of opening a can. Although rotation of the operating handle may be reversed from any possible position of the handle, less counterclockwise rotation thereof is required to release the can from the device if such rotation is commenced when the operating handle is in approximately a forwardly extended position. The operating handle is in a position approximately straight downward, where the maximum leverage is had by the operator, at the time the end of the can is actually punctured.

I claim:

. 1. A can opener of the rotary drive wheel type, comprising a body, a can rim engaging driving wheel, means supporting the wheel on the body for limited movement, an operating crank connected with the wheel for imparting rotary motion thereto, a can top cutter, a carrier upon one side of the body and supporting the cutter in a position for co-operative action with the wheel, the movement of the wheel being relative to the cutter, a member coupling the carrier with the body by which limited lateral pivotal movement of the carrier and the cutter relative to the body may take place, spring biased means supported by the carrier in position to be engaged by a can top flange engaged upon the under side by and receiving up-thrust from the wheel, and mechanism between the crank and the wheel supporting means by which the wheel is moved into working relation with the cutter upon the turning of the crank in one direction and the crank is subsequently released for continuous turning.

2. A can opener of the rotary drive wheel type comprising a body, a can rim engaging driving Wheel, means supporting the wheel on the body for limited movement, an operating crank connected with the wheel for imparting rotary motion thereto, a plate disposed against the side of the body adjacent to the driving wheel, a, cutter y the plate in a position for cooperative action with said wheel, a member coupling the plate with the body at its forward end to maintam said plate in parallel alignment wit Said body and against vertical movement, but permitting limited lateral swinging movement of the aeeegeer plate away from said body upon application of thrust outwardly from the body against the cutter, a yieldable rest carried by the plate forward of thecutter for engagement by the rimof the can supported on the driving wheel, a fixed rest carried by the plate rearward of the cutter for engagement by the rim of the can supported on the drivingwheel, and mechanism between the crank and the wheel supporting means by which the wheel ismoved into working relation with the cutter upon turning of the crank in one direction and the crank issubsequently released for continuous turning.

3. restructure of the character stated in claim 2, wherein said yieldable rest comprises a pin member movably supported by said plate, a head carried at one end of the pin and engaged by the rim of the can, and spring means interposed'between said head and a part of the plate and normally resisting movement of the pin in one dimotion.

4. A can opener of the rotarydrive wheel type comprising a body, a can. rim engaging driving wheel, means supporting the wheel on the body for limited movement, an operating crank connected with the wheel for imparting rotary motion thereto, a plate member disposed against the side of the body nearest to the driving wheel, means loosely coupling an end of the plate with the body, a guide pin secured to the body and extending through the plate. at the other end thereof, spring means connected between the pin and the plate'and normally urging the plate toward the body, a cutter carried by the plate in position for co-operation with the can driving wheel, a pair or" can rim engaging rests carried by the plate on opposite sides of the cutter, the forward one of said rests being supported for yielding movement under pressure applied thereto by the can rim under the action of the driving 8. wheel, and mechanism between the crank and the Wheel supporting means by which the wheel is moved into working relation with the cutter upon the turning of the crank in one direction and the crank is subsequently released for continuou turning.

5. A ca-n opener of the rotary drive wheel type comprising a plate body designed to be disposed horizontally for use, a can rim engaging driving wheel; means supporting the wheel on the plate body for limited up and down movement, an operatin crank connected with the wheel for imparting rotary motion thereto, a cutter supporting plate disposed adjacent to one side of the body plate upon the same side as and above the driving wheel, a cutter carried by the cutter plate in position for co-operative'action with the driving wheel, means coupling one end of the cutter plate with the body plate, a pin secured to the body plate and extending through the other end of the cutter plate and supporting the cutter plate for limited outward movement from the body plate, resilient meansbetween the pin and the, cutter plate normally urging the cutter plate toward the body plate, a fixed can rim engaging rest carried by the .cutter plate at one side of the cutter, a movable can rest carried by the cutter plate at the opposite side of the cutter, resilient means connecting the-movable rest with the cutter plate, and mechanism between the crank and the wheel supporting'means by which the wheel is moved into Working relation with the cutter upon the turning of the crank in one direction and the crank is subsequently released for continuous turning.

ROBERT E. MCLEAN.

No references cited. 

